Correction to: Nature Geoscience https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-020-0579-0, published online 1 June 2020.

In the version of this Perspective originally published, the last two sentences of Box 1 were incorrectly edited. The following sentences:

‘The size of the pie charts represents the calculated flux at the point of emission and there is relatively good agreement between estimates for Fe and Mn, despite loss during plume transport. However, for Zn a reconciliation between these datasets requires further work as the effective flux is in excess of the initial emission and, while the Cu flux reflects relative loss from within the plume, the calculated total flux based on far-field data exceeds estimates based on near-vent data14,51,60–63.’ should have been:

‘The size of the pie charts is proportional to the flux, at a log scale; the wedge represents the percent of initial flux remaining in the far field. Fe, Cu and Mn demonstrate loss during plume transport. However, for Zn a reconciliation between these datasets requires further work as the effective flux is in excess of the initial emission14,51,60–63.’

These have now been corrected.